to take immediate action against the guilty policemen who committed atrocity on Muslims of Moradabad.It said that illegal and irresponsible action of policemen and officials had triggered the unsavoury violent incidents in Asalat Nagar Wagah, Dingarpur, Nankar and Asadpur villages of Moradabad District of UP on July 6 last month.
Releasing the fact-finding report, the APCR said the July 6, was a black day for residents of Asalat Nagar Wagah and adjoining villages which were situated just 15-18 Kilometer from the district headquarters.
News of alleged desecration of Holy Quran by police personnel’s during raid of a house at Asalat Nagar Wagah spread like wildfire that led to a chain of violence started from public to police resulting loss of public and private properties, demolished communal harmony of the area. Large number of people including policemen injured in the violence including D.I.G of the area.
APCR team came to conclusion that the entire episode happened due to the police highhandedness. Its findings based on interviews of the victims, relatives, officials from police and administration, says the desecration of Quran has some truth. Noorjahan’s statement was vouched by neighbors. It was not a rumor as described by the police. The DIG opened fire on stone pelting mob in which four youths including juveniles injured. Police in reaction behaved like hired goons and started looting and destroying shops. They let loose a rein of terror by resorting merciless baton charge on women, children and even the older ones. It also registered fake FIRs against villagers and indiscriminate arrest.
The report also highlighted the role of local media saying it did not brought police excesses and highhandedness to limelight and behaved as mouthpiece of police. It says the entire community in the area is living in constant fear as most them are wage laborers.
Making a host of demands and recommendations, the APCR said the Police and the local administration must be asked to submit their report in a time bound frame and withdrawal of all F.I.Rs and immediate release of innocent, the state government should give proper compensation to the affected villagers.
It also asked the National Human Rights Commission, National Commission of Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) and National Commission for Women (NCW) to investigate the incident as it is serious case of human rights violations.
The team which prepared the report comprised of Syed Akhlak Ahmad, secretary Delhi Chapter-Association for Protection of Civil Rights (APCR), Afroz Alam Sahil, RTI activist and Kamala Kanta Dash, research scholar, Monash University, Australia and others.
